Tool box and locking handle



Aug. 22, 1950 J. M. MILLER 2,519,490

TOOL BOX AND LOCKING HANDLE Filed March 22, 1948 Inventor John M Mil/er Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL BOX AND LOCKING HANDLE John M. Miller, Summerdale, Ala.

Application March 22, 1948, Serial No. 16,187

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a box or carrying case, such as a tool box, fishing tackle box, lunch box, or the like, and has for its primary object to provide a box of this type which is sturdy and eflicient for enabling various articles to be carried.

Another important object of this invention is to provide locking means for the carrying case or box, which will enable articles to be carried in the box without danger of the lid or cover sections opening and allowing the articles to spill or drop out.

Another object of this invention is to provide in association with a pair-of cooperating handles mounted on complementary closure lids or sections a latch assembly which is permanently carried by one of the handles for selective looking engagement with the other handle and which, in use, is dependable and efficient for maintaining the lids or cover sections in secured, closed placement on the case.

A meritorious feature of this invention resides in the provision of a split sleeve which is permanently secured to a handle carried by a hinged cover section for locking engagement with a similar handle carried by the complementary cover section.

These and ancillary objects and other important features are attained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a carrying case or box, such as a tool box or the like, illustrating a pair of handles swivelly mounted on the cover sections of the box and depicting a latch assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, adapted for locking the cover sections in closed placement;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the latch assembly; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken centrally through the box, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown a tool box, generally denoted by the character reference 10, comprising a pair of longitudinal opposed parallel side sections i2. Integrally formed with the sides l2 and joining the sides together are a pair of opposed end sections l4, having upstanding inwardly converging portions which extend above the sides I2. Hinged or otherwise secured to the top edge of the sides l2 are a pair of cover sections or lids l6 and l8, suitably hinged as at 28. The cover section l8 has a lateral extension or flange 22 formed on the free end thereof for overlapping engagement with the section I6 when in seated or closed placement on the triangular extension of the opposed ends. Complementary handles 24 and 26 are suitably secured to the closure sections [6 and I8 and comprise a U-shaped body portion having laterally extending foot sections 28 and 30 which extend outwardly in opposed directions and are adapted to be secured in the bearing brackets 32 and 33 suitably secured or mounted on the cover sections.

Suitable means is provided for selectively securing the handles 24 and 26. The latch or looking means 34 preferably comprises a split sleeve 36, which is permanently secured to one of the handles for selective engagement with the opposed complementary handle. The sleeve 36 comprises a pair of opposed arcuately inturned longitudinal sides 38 and 4D. The attaching or arcuate side 38 is adapted for permanent placement on the body portion of the handle 26 and is permanently secured thereon by means of an angle piece 42, which is secured to the sleeve 36 by means of the aflixing member 44, such as a screw or bolt assembly.

Thus, the attaching portion 38 is adapted for permanent placement on the handle 26 and is adapted to swing freely thereon, so that when the lids l6 and I8 are placed in overlapped closed position, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the sleeve 35 is swung from the handle 26 and the opposed attaching portion $0 is adapted to engage the handle 24, thereby securing the handles in locked position and coincidentally maintaining the cover sections in secured placement.

Of course, the angle bar 42 is provided, in order to enable the attaching sleeve 36 to be attached to a conventional tool box or carrying case. However, the sleeve 36 may be formed by securing the side portion 38 securely around the handle, thus obviating the need for the supporting angular bar 42.

Thus, it can be seen that there is provided a tool box having the complementary overlapping hinged cover sections, with handle or carrying elements swivelly mounted on the sections and adapted to support and serve as locking means, in association with the supported latch means.

However, since many other purposes and objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the foregoing description, in view of the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that certain changes may be effected therein coming within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 181 In combination with a tool box having hinged cover sections and handles swivelly mounted on the cover sections, latch means including a grip member having opposing inwardly directed curved ends, one of said ends being swivelly secured on one of the handles, an angle iron detachably secured on the upper face of the grip member and abutting against the inturned edge of the sWivelled end for securing the said end on the handle, the other of said ends being latch- 15 ingly engageable with the other handle.

JOHN M. MILLER.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,495,548 Cline May 27, 1924 2,133,425 Carlson Oct. 18, 1938 2,147,798 Pilcher Feb. 21, 1939 10 2,311,664 Johnson Feb. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,746 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1896 

